Golf device



Oct. '13, 1936. E. F. SCHAFER GOLF DEVICE Filed Dec. 27, 1952 3 3 r II \n Z 3 a N 6 MW 8 9 MW ATT RNEY.

Patented Get. 13, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in golf devices in which a ball is hit toward a hole, and the objects of my improvement are, first, to provide a golf device having a rollable portion provided with a hole for receiving a ball; second, to provide a golf device having an inclined surface with a hole therein; third, to provide a golf device having a member for causing a. ball to rebound toward the point from which the ball is hit; fourth, to provide a golf device having a rollable portion together with means for frictionally securing the rollable portion in a rolled position; fifth, to provide a golf device provided with vacuum members for securing the device against movement; when a rollably mounted portion is unrolled; sixth, to provide a golf device having means for altering the position of a carpet member to provide various hazardous shapes in the carpet member; seventh,

to provide a golf device having a carpet member provided with a designated portion toward which a ball is spotted by a rebound movement; eighth, to provide a golf device provided with spaced designations for measuring the rebound movement of a ball; ninth, to provide a golf device having a carpet member provided with means for preventing warping; tenth, to provide a golf device having a carpet portion resembling the grass or turf of a green on a golf link, said carpet portion having a hole resembling a golf hole surrounded by turf, the edge of the hole being reinforced by stiffening means; eleventh, to provide a golf device having a supporting portion extending partially around and beneath a hole in a carpet member; twelfth, to provide a golf device having a frame member forming a handle for transporting. the device; and thirteenth, to provide a golf device having a hole with an edge portion extending ina plurality of planes.

I attain these objects by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,--

Figure 1 is a plan view of the golfing device in its operative position; Fig. 2, a sectional view of a portion of the golfing device in its operative position; Fig. 3, a side elevation of a portion of the golfing device; Fig. 4, a plan view of the golfing device in its rolled or compact position for being transported or stored; Fig. 5, an end elevation of the golfing device as disclosed in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a vertical section through the hole for receiving a golf ball; Fig. 7, a vertical section through a portion of the carpet portion and its means for preventing warping, said section being taken on the line 1-1, Fig. 1; Fig. 8, a side elevation of one of the members for altering the shape or position of the carpet portion; and Fig. 9, a vertical section through the golfing device when in its rolled or assembled position, said section being taken on the line 99, Fig. 4.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The supporting frame or framework assembly A of my golfing device includes the side members and 2 which are formed with the spherical portions 3 having radii approximately equal or slightly greater than the outside radius of the carpet 4 when in its rolled position of assembly as disclosed in Figs. 4, 5, and 9, thus producing, with the furniture finish of the side members I and 2 and the remaining portions of the golfing device, a most pleasing appearance and an assembly that will compare favorably with the furniture in any home where my golfing device is adapted for use.

The side members I and 2 are connected together, at their ends, by the cross piece 5, the side members I and 2 being suitably rabbeted or cut back at 6, the cross piece 5 being secured by the screws 1. The cross piece 5 may be provided with the handle portion 8 which permits the golfing device to be easily carried, transported, or stored as an assembly.

The framework A is also connected together by the cross piece 9 which is also fitted into a suitably rabbeted or cut back portion In of the side members I and 2, the cross piece 9 being located directly below the axis of the roller H which is revolvably mounted in the recesses or bearings l2 which extend partially through the side members I and. 2. The carpet 4 is suitably secured, to the roller I l, at E3 and is so located that the resilient member I4 is located approximately as shown in Fig. 2, in which position, the resilient member M will act as a rebound member to cause the golf ball l9 when hit past the hole 15 to strike the resilient member I4 to rebound and roll back down the carpet 4. The golfing device can thus be used for amusement purposes in which the game or contest will be to place the golf ball ill on or adjacent the spot 16 on the carpet 4 and then striking the golf ball H] with a golf club to cause the golf ball l9 to roll down the carpet 4 and strike the resilient member l4 and rebound back along the carpet 4 toward the spot 16, the skill of the player being determined by the final position of the golf ball i9 relative to the spot IE or the lines or marks ll which designate different graduated positions located atdifierent distances from the spot it. 55"

It will thus be seen that the resilient member I4 is suitably secured to the roller II, as by nailing or cementing, in the position disclosed in which the golf ball I9, rolling up the inclined portion I8 of the carpet 4, will be guided, by the inclined position of the carpet 4, to strike the central portion of the resilient member I4. The side: members I and 2 of the framework A are further connected together by the inclined member 2!]; which is secured by the screws 2| to the cleat or bracket members 22 which are suitably secured to the side members I and 2. The inclined member is provided with an irregular or indented portion 23 which is located adjacent and around one side of the hole I5 to support the carpet 4 and to position and maintain the hole I5 so that the hole I5 forms, for practical purposes, an opening whose edge portion 24 presents the same reaction to the golf ball I9 entering same as will be found in the normal hole'of the greens of a golf links. The carpet 4 is preferably constructed with a base portion 25 of burlap or similar material and having its upper portion 26 formed of felt or similar material which is similar in, appearance and in its reactionto the rolling of the golf ball I9 thereon as will be found on the grass or turf of the usual greens of a golf links, the upper portion 26 being preferably colored green to resemble grass. It isfurther to be noted that the portion 21 of the hole I5, as indicated on one side of the dotted line 28, in Fig. 1, will extend practically in a horizontal plane to allow the golf ball I9, when struck properly to roll to the hole I5 and to roll over the horizontally located edge of the hole I5 in the same manner as it would in rolling into a hole on the greens of a golf links whereas if the golf ball I9 is struck with sufficient force to roll or pass by and over the hole I5, the side 29% of the hole I5 will be raised, due to the carpet 4 being elevated by the inclined member 20, and will present its edge portion 45 to be struck by the golf ball I9 to cause the golf ball I9 to be deflected or rebounded back into the hole I5, thus denoting to the player that the proper blow has been applied to the golf ball to guide it in alignment with and into the hole l5. To enable the portion 26 of the carpet 4 to maintain its felt or similar material in its original shape and construction around the edge of the hole I5 and to prevent the material of the portion 26 from becoming worn round and displaced which would disturb or deflect the golf ball I9 in its course into and over the hole I5, the edge portion 30 of the hole I5 is reinforced by being impregnated with rubber cement or similar material, such as cloth or twine binding.

The use of the carpet 4 with a base portion 25 constructed of burlap or similar material enables the carpet 4 to be maintained in a flat position on the floor, indicated at 3|, without wrinkles, undulations, or warping therein and to further accomplish this desired result and to prevent the carpet 4 from being thus further displaced, the end portion 32 is provided with the member 33 which is provided with the upper flange 34 and the lower flange 35, said flanges being placed adjacent the upper surface of the portion 26 and adjacent the lower surface of the portion 25, the member 33 further extending around the end surface of the carpet 4, the member 33 being provided with the indented portions 36 which extend into and secure the member 33 on the carpet 4. The flange 34 may be provided with the irregular edges 31 to improve its appearance.

The cross piece 9 is provided with the material 38, which may be a layer of rubber or material similar to that of the carpet 4, the material 38 being suitably secured to the cross piece 9 in such manner and position as will enable same to frictionally engage-the carpet 4 with sufficient pressure as to clamp the carpet 4 when in its rolled position, as disclosed in Figs. 4, 5, and 9, and form a brake mechanism to prevent the carpet 4 from becoming unrolled except when the golf device is being prepared by the player for operation in which case the player takes the end portion 32 in his hands and pulls the carpet from around the roller II, the carpet 4 being pulled from its rolled up position disclosed in Figs. 4, 5, and 9 with sufficient force to overcome the braking effect of the member 38 against the roll of carpet during the initial revolution or so of the roller I I when the carpet 4 will unroll freely and the player can easily pull the carpet 4 to its extended position, as disclosed in Fig. 1, in which the golfing device is ready for the playing operation.

When the carpet 4 is being unrolled in the operation as above described, the golf device is prevented from being pulled along the floor 3| by the vacuum cup members 35, which are suitably secured to the cross piece 5 or a similar portion of the framework A, the vacuum cup members 39 being provided with vacuum recesses which tend to adhere to the floor 3! and maintain the golf device in a fixed position. Also the vacuum cup members 39 are located at the outer end of the framework A and thus provide a clearance space 40 between the side members I and 2 and the floor 3i, the clearance space 44 tapering to the inside ends, of the side members I and 2, which rest on the floor SI. The side members I and 2 are respectively provided with the extension portions 4i and 42 at their inner ends, said extension portions extending above and adjacent the edges of the carpet 4 to provide guard members to prevent the golf ball I9 from being deflected transversely from the golf device. The golf device provides a readily operated means for enabling players to practise putting under conditions closely resembling the actual greens of a golf course, the hole I5, with its reinforced edge portion 30, providing a receptacle, for receiving the golf ball I9, which closely resembles the usual cup member surrounded by the firm grass or turf of the greens of a golf course. Also to provide variations in the putting and other playing operations, I provide the member 43, one or more of which can be placed on the floor 3I and under the carpet 4, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 3, the member 43 having the inclined surface 44 on its upper side to position the carpet 4 at an angle with the floor 3|, the member 43 being placed, when desired, at an angle with the longitudinal center of the carpet 4 to provide various angular hazards or undulations in the carpet member 4 for testing and developing the skill of the player. When the playing operation is at an end, the roller I2 is easily revolved by hand until the carpet 4 is coiled or rolled into the position, as disclosed in Figs. 4, 5, and 9, in which the carpet 4 is again held in its rolled position by frictional engagement with the member 38, in which compact form and assembly, the golf deviceis ready to be transported by hand or by being placed in the body of a motor car or similar vehic1e, and after use is thus made ready for storage in any convenient place without taking up excessive space, or it may be left in any room in a home or similar place in which it is used, the artistic shape and pleasing appearance of the golfing device rendering it a welcome and important portion of any furniture equipment.

The memberor members 33 will be provided with the resilient end or ends 36, which may be madeof resilient material, such as rubber composition or similar material, to permit the member or members 45 to be inserted between the side members i and 2 in position,.such as disclosed in Fig. 4, the ends of the member 48 engaging the inside surfaces of the side members I, and 2, the resilientend 46 being displaced in itsengagement with the inside surface of one of the members I or 2 to develop suflicient tension to cause the member 43 to be supported in the golfing device, as shown in Fig. 4, thus rendering an efficient and compact method of packing the member or members 43 for storage and transportation purposes.

I claim: I

1. In a golf device, the combination of a supporting framework assembly, a roller revolvably mounted in said supporting framework assembly, a carpet member suitably connected to said roller and adapted to be rolled thereon, said carpet member being provided with an opening for receiving a ball therein, the opening of said carpet member being provided with a reinforced edge portion, said carpet member being provided with a designated spot adjacent one of its ends together with a plurality of spaced designated marks between its said spot and said opening, a resilient member suitably attached to said roller, said resilient member being so located as to be engaged by a ball rolling along said carpet member toward said roller, means attached to said carpet member to prevent it from warping, means secured to said supporting framework assembly for contacting said carpet member when rolled on said roller to prevent said carpet member from unrolling, and members suitably secured to said supporting framework assembly to eliminate movement of the golf device when in its operating position.

2. In a golf device, the combination of a carpet member provided with an opening therein to receive a ball, and means for supporting said carpet member so that a portion of the edge of said opening extends approximately in a horizontal plane to receive the ball, said means further supporting said carpet member so that a portion of the edge of said opening is raised above a horizontal plane to engage the ball.

3. In a golf device, the combination of a pair of side members, means for spacing said pair of side members, said means including an inclined member provided with an indented edge portion, and a carpet member supported on said inclined member, said carpet member being provided with an opening for receiving a ball, said opening being located adjacent the indented edge portion of said inclined member to maintain a portion of said opening substantially in a horizontal plane together with the remainder of said hole in a raised position relative to said horizontal plane.

4. In a golf device, the combination of a carpet member provided with an opening for receiving a ball, said carpet member being further provided with a spot designation thereon together with a plurality of spaced designations between said opening and said spot designation, a roller member secured to said carpet member, and

means for causing a ball to rebound to a position adjacent one of said designations on said carpet member, said means being suitably secured to said roller.

5. In a golf device, the combination of a roller member suitably mounted, a carpet member secured to said roller member, and resilient means suitably attached to said roller member for causing a ball striking said resilient means to rebound along said carpet member.

6. In a golf device, the combination of means provided with an opening for receiving a ball, said means being suitably mounted to be rolled, and means for causing the ball to rebound past saidopening, said last mentioned means being adapted to be rolled within said first mentioned means.

7. In a golf device adapted for use on a floor, or similar surface, the combination of a roller member, a pair of side members supporting said roller member, a carpet member secured to said roller member and adapted to be rolled thereon, and a brake mechanism suitably supported in alignment with a line extending at right angles to the floor and through said roller member, said brake mechanism being adapted to contact said carpet member when in a rolled position to prevent said'carpet member from unrolling.

8. In a golf device, the combination of a pair of side members, a roller suitably supported in said side members, a carpet member suitably secured to said roller and adapted to be rolled thereon, and a member adapted to be placed under said carpet member when in an unrolled position to provide undulations therein, said last mentioned member being provided with a resilient portion to enable said last mentioned member to be positioned between said pair of side members.

9. In a golf device, the combination of a pair of supporting frame members, a carpet member suitably supported on said supporting frame members, and a member adapted to be located under said carpet member when unrolled to form undulations therein, said last mentioned memher being provided with means for frictionally contacting one of said supporting frame members to enable said last mentioned member to be supported between said supporting frame members to facilitate storage of said last mentioned member.

10. In a golf device, the combination of a supporting structure, a member rollably supported by said supporting structure and adapted to support a carpet member when in a rolled position, and a member supported by said supporting structure and provided with a surface for contacting said carpet member when in its rolled position, said surface of said last mentioned member preventing said carpet from unrolling, said surface of said last mentioned member having no contact with said carpet member when said carpet member is in an unrolled position.

11. In a golf device, the combination of a carpet member, means for supporting said carpet member in rolled and unrolled positions, and brake means for contacting said carpet member when in a rolled position only to prevent said carpet member from unrolling, said brake means having no contact with said carpet member when in an unrolled or partially unrolled position.

12. In a golf device, the combination of a carpet member adapted to be maintained in rolled and unrolled positions, a member attached to and adapted to support one end of said carpet member, a pair of side members supporting said second mentioned member, an inclined member supported by said pair of side members, said inclined member supporting, said carpet member when in an unrolled position, and means supported by said pair of side members and adapted to contact said carpet member when in a rolled position only to maintain said carpet member in its rolled position, said means extending in a plane located below the uppermost edge of said inclined member.

13. In a golf device, the combination of a supporting structure comprising a pair of side members and a member extending therebetween, said supporting structure further comprising an inclined member extending between said pair of side members, said inclined member having its uppermost edge spaced from said member extending between said pair of side members, a

carpet member suitably connected with said member extending between said pair of side members and supported by said inclined member, and resilient means suitably mounted on said member, extending between said pair of side members, for causing a ball striking said resilient means to rebound along said carpet member.

14. In a golf device, the combination of a frame structure provided with semi-circular shaped side portions extending iiprightly adjecent the ends of a carpet member when in a rolled position, said semi-circular shaped portions extending sufliciently' to substantially cover the adjacent portions only of said carpet member when in a rolled position, said frame structure being further provided with extension portions extending uprightly a sufficient distance to provide means for preventing a golf ball from rolling off the sides of a carpet member thereadjacent when in an unrolled position, said frame structure being further provided with an inclined portion extending between said extension portions, and a carpet member suitably supported on said inclined portion of said frame structure when in an unrolled position, said carpet member being adapted to be rolled to a position between said semi-circular shaped side portions, said carpet member being provided with a hole for receiving a golf ball, said hole of said carpet member having its edge, nearest the center about which said carpet member is rolled, elevated above the plane in which the opposite edge of the hole extends, to cause the ball when driven in a sole plane over said opposite edge of said hole to engage said raised edge to deflect the ball into said hole.

ERNEST F. SCHAFER. 

